Remains found at Independence Square revealed to be of ex-SriLankan executive

The body found near the Independence Square in Colombo this morning (12) has been identified that of a former manager of the SriLankan Airlines, Rajeewa Jayaweera.

Police said a firearm with four live ammunition was found at the scene. Despite his National Identity Card mentioning an address in Rajagiriya, Jayaweera has been last spotted at his residence in the area of Milagiriya, Bambalapitiya.

He had reportedly given the keys of his office to an employee and instructed the maid at his house in Bambalapitiya to give the key to his car to his brother, just before leaving the house last evening.

Jayaweera had served as a manager at SriLankan Airlines and later operated an airline ticketing company. He was also a freelance journalist who had published many articles on SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka.

The police revealed that the deceased had left a letter addressed to his brother.

According to the letter, Jayaweera had been suffering from an ailment pertaining to his spinal cord and had decided to take his own life, Police Media Spokesperson SP Jaliya Senaratne said during a media briefing.

“He had mentioned certain messages in the letter and details of how he had purchased he firearm,” SP Senaratne said further.

The report released following the post-mortem examination conducted by the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer L.M.L. de Silva determined the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head through the mouth.

Colombo Judicial Medical Officer reported that the victim’s body did not suffer any other wounds and that there had not been other wounds that would have been caused by a third party, SP Senaratne added.

Under these circumstances, the Police ruled the death as a suicide.

However, the magistrate’s inquest on the death is yet to be conducted.